I have now had the Bessacarr E496 for just under 5 months
and things have gone from bad to worse the kitchen is now moving when driving I have today had the Dealer and Black Horse uplift the van to get it checked out by Swift who are not at all helpful my next port of call is the FCA as I requested a replacement within 30days. So now just wait and see.
Hi all, the final chapter for us on the crappy bessacarr 496,2015.After 18months of stress, worry and unbelievable frustration, having to deal with Glossop caravans and swift and after instructing a solicitor, we have finally got a closure in a very unsatisfactory way, our brief first asked for a full refund as the van was not fit for purpose, this was rejected as we have had use of the van and they Glossop would carry out over 31faults, swift offered to take the van to the factory for 7weeks then return it to Glossop to fit the parts that they had already ordered this would take another 2weeks, of course as mentioned in earlier post to accept the repairs puts you in a difficult situation in law, so on the advice of the solicitor we rejected the offer as we have lost faith in the van, dealer,and swift itself. We said allowing for the use of the van 4500 miles the least we would take was £46.500.we paid £51.000. This was rejected and an offer of £44.000 plus £250 as a gesture of good will (sic). After speaking with the solicitor, she thought it was a bit low but if we reject it the next step would be to start proceedings at a cost of around £30,000and even then the court might rule the offer was fair and award costs to the other side, which would leave us with nothing. So we decided that we would take their offer but on the condition that they pay our legal fees £900.this was reluctantly accepted. Total money back came to £45,150.and they would pick up the van at my premises have a quick look around it, then transfer the money straight into our bank. The men from Glossop came and after an hour, I received a call from the solicitors saying it had just received a call from Glossop saying that the van upon inspection was found to have a few faults that they had not been informed about and so the offer was being reduced to£43.400. Otherwise the van was staying where it was. Faults as follows a hairline split on the rear, which I had reported 3months previously, a scratch on the glass top on the oven, the kitchen blind was grubby (wife in tears again) a scratch to the front bumper, fair enough. The van smells of smoking, the upholstery which we paid£450extra for looked crumpled. It was just adding insult to injury, to knock off £1750.what did they expect a new unused vehicle back with its 31plus manufacturering faults, and a now unbelievable bow inside and outside on the roof it beggars belief, and they were trying to wear us down. After speaking again to the solicitor, same answer might lose in court, grrr. 2days later at my expense, I drove the van to Glossop argued my case, after 3hours accepted reluctantly a final offer of £44.050.as I rang my bank to check the money had gone through, we both stood there when they said yes we both burst into tears of relief that the frustration disappointment worry and stress we have endured had gone but still wonder what we did wrong the answer to that is we spent all our hard earned money on a crappy bessacarr 496.NB :-get your roofs checked over. Regards Paul and hev x
I have been following this topic although I have not contributed to the discussion.
I am so glad that you have finally received an outcome, that although not ideal, at least it brings closure to what has been a very distressing period in your lives.
As you say, what did you do wrong?. The answer is nothing.
It has been widely reported on this forum and others about the way Glossop behave, and your experience reported here is there for all to see.
I hope that your courage in reporting this will prevent others from suffering in the way that you both have.
After macheting my way through paulnhev's informative post, and what a sorry tale it is, I can only say phew and paragraphs.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Hi Paulnhav what a journey you have been on. Please please buy a German van when you are ready we had similar but not as bad as yourselfs i started this fourum when we purchased a new crap bessacarr with so many problems and since purchased a burstner what a difference we havent looked back good luck and avoid the SWIFT GROUP TOTALLY
Well done you .. We had a Swift 712SB with numerous faults. Finished up fixing them myself and then took the Dealer to Court for recompense for my time and parts used. We kept it for 3 long years before I gave up. Every time we took it out something else fell off. The last habitation inspection showed up the hundreds of tiny stress fractures in the roof. These were over the doors and at the back where there was a long overhang. Just cosmetic was all they would say and no damp.
HI Paul and Hev
Seems I was a lot luckier I have just had a full refund for my 2016 July registered E496 together with a compensation payment of £875 for loss of use and a refund for the towbar £570 that I had fitted all in all good outcome the main problem was that they had failed to secure the side of the accommodation unit to its floor causing the van to separate along the lower passenger side. I wish you luck with your next van I will be testing mine fully before collection.
In all the calls I made I had no response from the manufacturer but was forced to deal with the dealer Stewart Mouland who in my case were honourable and helpful and took hold of the problem so this is a dealer I would recommend fully.
That is a real shame, we have just bought a 2014 442 and love it. We have not had it long and i think someatim eas you area better off not buying new, let someone else have the heartache of teething rpoblems.
We bought a new RApido hD a few problexms wzithnir and totallyblost confidence in the product aNd the dealerships. At least with Bessacarr we have a local dealer, though for the two things i have wanted i have use Brownhills who were superb, would you believe after all the stick they get. The lady I dealt with could not have been more helpful..
I dont think it is just uk manufacturers who have problems i have freinds who have anew Bailey and one who has. KNaus. Both have problems they are struggling to sort out. Not much help to you, but a least you are not alone
My trusty 1996 Burstner A543 has just sailed through its MOT again. 13 very happy years and thousands of miles travelled ,Europe and UK.Would I buy British.....?
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Topic: Crap bessacarr
